EVERETT, Wash. — Surveillance video released by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) allegedly shows a 48-year-old man pouring gasoline inside an Everett sex shop and setting it on fire.
The sheriff’s office says the man was arrested on the night of October 1 in connection with two arsons within hours of each other.
In new video released on Saturday, the man can be seen walking up to the Airport Adult Video shop in Everett with a red gas can and allegedly began pouring it in and around the shop as employees were inside.
“It could have developed into a very dangerous and deadly situation,” Snohomish County Deputy Lt. Jason Toner said.
Shortly after, video shows the man running out of the building with flames and smoke coming from the shop.
Two hours later, the man allegedly set fire to another Everett sex shop, The Love Zone, as people were inside. Toner said the suspect gave no indication why the two adult stores were targeted.
“In some cases, arsonists like to stay in the area and kind of watch the work that they’ve done. It was true in this case as well.” Toner said.
A second clip posted by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office shows body-worn camera footage from a deputy as he found the suspect at a parking lot on Evergreen Way and Pecks Drive in Everett.
The suspect allegedly threw a stick at the deputy when he first arrived and a K9 was released to chase the suspected arsonist.
“The suspect was definitely motivated. He had a theme that he was going with that night and that’s what he was working on and I suspect that if we hadn’t caught him after the second one, he would have continued to do it to other, other businesses as well.” Toner said.
The man was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail two counts of first-degree arson, burglary, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and controlled substance knowingly possessing with no prescription.
©2025 Cox Media Group
